Tag: Assam Chief Minister

  • Assam CM Himanta emerges as BJP’s poster boy for election campaigns

    By PTI

    GUWAHATI: The BJP’s most prominent face from the North East, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has emerged as the party’s new poster boy for election campaigning, capturing eyeballs as its first-star campaigner from the region in faraway Gujarat and Delhi.

    Be it the revocation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, imposition of Uniform Civil Code (UCC), PFI ban, Ram Janmabhoomi temple issue, communal angle to the recent killing of a girl by her live-in partner or the attack on Congress and his bete noire Rahul Gandhi, Sarma has left no stone unturned to push forward assertively the right-wing party’s key agenda in poll-bound Gujarat where the BJP has ruled for the last 27 years, barring a brief period of President’s Rule.

    Sarma, in the eyes of his supporters, of course, comes with the right credentials for the role.

    The passing of the Cattle Protection Act, calling for specific policy measures for slowing down minority population growth, closing down of government Madrasas and turning them into general schools, demolition of madrasas following arrest of teachers with alleged terror links, sealing of the ‘Miya’ (Bengali-speaking Muslims in Assam) musuem, among others has brought him to the fore of polarisation politics, according to experts.

    The Chief Minister, however, during his campaign trail has hit back with questions like “does an Owaisi (Asaduddin Owaisi) alone have the right to polarisation. Do the Hindus not have the right to assert their glorious cultural and civilisational heritage? It is the media who term this as polarisation when Prime Minister Narendra Modi has strived hard to restore our pride in ‘Sanatan Dharma’ which is the soul of our nation”.

    He has also dismissed the title of ‘star campaigner’ stating he is “no star but just an ordinary ‘karyakarta’ (worker) of the party and Gujarat leaders also go to Assam during elections”.

    Campaigning in Gujarat twice within a week, Sarma has focussed his attack on his erstwhile party – the Congress which he left in 2015 to join the BJP, and particularly on Rahul Gandhi who he alleged was more interested in feeding biscuits to his dog than in solving party’s problems.

    In each of his campaign, either in Gujarat or Delhi, he has attacked the Congress for following ”politics of appeasement” for the benefit of a particular community and even went on to refer to Gandhi resembling Saddam Hussain due to the beard he has kept during the ongoing ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’.

    Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar, when asked about Sarma’s continuous attack on the Congress and Rahul, said that he has to ”please his masters for his political survival.

    The BJP resorts to polarisation politics at a time when the youth and people are talking about unemployment and price rise”.

    Political analyst Paresh Malakar pointed out that he highlights issues core to BJP’s communal agenda but added that the comments may also be construed as ”irresponsible”.

    “Apart from the communal angle, Sarma is trying to mislead and provoke,”, Malakar, also the General Secretary of civil society group Assam Nagarik Sabha, told PTI.

    Political analyst Chandan Sarma of Dibrugarh University claimed that it is well-documented that Sarma has been behind the success of BJP in the North East and that his stature is increasing in the national arena, too, as he ”boldly articulates the core BJP agenda on various issues”.

    Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) General Secretary Jagadish Bhuyan told PTI that even after being in power for so many years in Gujarat, “The BJP is not talking about development but engaged in communal polarization. Sarma can go to any extent to instigate people.”

    Assam Pradesh Congress President Bhupen Bora however told PTI that Sarma has been taken to Gujarat not to give speeches but for fund management.

    “The BJP government in the state has looted funds which the party is using for election purpose,” Bora alleged.

    The BJP, however, refutes these allegations with its Rajya Sabha MP Pabitra Margherita asserting the campaigning task recognises Sarma’s ability “to connect with people’s pulse, his practical and viable commitments and its timely implementation which has been noticed not only in the region but also in the rest of the country”.

    Besides, BJP encourages and empowers “new generation politicians and gives space to young leaders working for the nation’s development along with preserving ideological ethos,” Margherita said.

    GUWAHATI: The BJP’s most prominent face from the North East, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has emerged as the party’s new poster boy for election campaigning, capturing eyeballs as its first-star campaigner from the region in faraway Gujarat and Delhi.

    Be it the revocation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, imposition of Uniform Civil Code (UCC), PFI ban, Ram Janmabhoomi temple issue, communal angle to the recent killing of a girl by her live-in partner or the attack on Congress and his bete noire Rahul Gandhi, Sarma has left no stone unturned to push forward assertively the right-wing party’s key agenda in poll-bound Gujarat where the BJP has ruled for the last 27 years, barring a brief period of President’s Rule.

    Sarma, in the eyes of his supporters, of course, comes with the right credentials for the role.

    The passing of the Cattle Protection Act, calling for specific policy measures for slowing down minority population growth, closing down of government Madrasas and turning them into general schools, demolition of madrasas following arrest of teachers with alleged terror links, sealing of the ‘Miya’ (Bengali-speaking Muslims in Assam) musuem, among others has brought him to the fore of polarisation politics, according to experts.

    The Chief Minister, however, during his campaign trail has hit back with questions like “does an Owaisi (Asaduddin Owaisi) alone have the right to polarisation. Do the Hindus not have the right to assert their glorious cultural and civilisational heritage? It is the media who term this as polarisation when Prime Minister Narendra Modi has strived hard to restore our pride in ‘Sanatan Dharma’ which is the soul of our nation”.

    He has also dismissed the title of ‘star campaigner’ stating he is “no star but just an ordinary ‘karyakarta’ (worker) of the party and Gujarat leaders also go to Assam during elections”.

    Campaigning in Gujarat twice within a week, Sarma has focussed his attack on his erstwhile party – the Congress which he left in 2015 to join the BJP, and particularly on Rahul Gandhi who he alleged was more interested in feeding biscuits to his dog than in solving party’s problems.

    In each of his campaign, either in Gujarat or Delhi, he has attacked the Congress for following ”politics of appeasement” for the benefit of a particular community and even went on to refer to Gandhi resembling Saddam Hussain due to the beard he has kept during the ongoing ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’.

    Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar, when asked about Sarma’s continuous attack on the Congress and Rahul, said that he has to ”please his masters for his political survival.

    The BJP resorts to polarisation politics at a time when the youth and people are talking about unemployment and price rise”.

    Political analyst Paresh Malakar pointed out that he highlights issues core to BJP’s communal agenda but added that the comments may also be construed as ”irresponsible”.

    “Apart from the communal angle, Sarma is trying to mislead and provoke,”, Malakar, also the General Secretary of civil society group Assam Nagarik Sabha, told PTI.

    Political analyst Chandan Sarma of Dibrugarh University claimed that it is well-documented that Sarma has been behind the success of BJP in the North East and that his stature is increasing in the national arena, too, as he ”boldly articulates the core BJP agenda on various issues”.

    Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) General Secretary Jagadish Bhuyan told PTI that even after being in power for so many years in Gujarat, “The BJP is not talking about development but engaged in communal polarization. Sarma can go to any extent to instigate people.”

    Assam Pradesh Congress President Bhupen Bora however told PTI that Sarma has been taken to Gujarat not to give speeches but for fund management.

    “The BJP government in the state has looted funds which the party is using for election purpose,” Bora alleged.

    The BJP, however, refutes these allegations with its Rajya Sabha MP Pabitra Margherita asserting the campaigning task recognises Sarma’s ability “to connect with people’s pulse, his practical and viable commitments and its timely implementation which has been noticed not only in the region but also in the rest of the country”.

    Besides, BJP encourages and empowers “new generation politicians and gives space to young leaders working for the nation’s development along with preserving ideological ethos,” Margherita said.

  • Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma chairs 18-hour long marathon security meet

    Express News Service

    GUWAHATI: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma chaired an 18-hour long security meeting where the law and order situation across districts besides various issues relating to policing were discussed.

    “First Day of SPs Conference, started at 10.30 am yesterday, has ended just now, at 4 am. This 18 hour-long marathon was intense, with detailed presentations by SPs/Addl SPs,” Sarma tweeted.

    He also wrote: “We stand committed to provide a technologically-advanced, citizen-friendly police force to our people.”

    Later on Tuesday evening, he told journalists he had wanted to know the status of the cases registered over the past eight months since his government was installed.

    He said he and the senior police officials also discussed the problems of the personnel. He said the state government would spend Rs 2,500 crore this year to build housing infrastructure for the cops.

    There are 11,000 vacant posts in the police department and he instructed it to set a goal of appointing 16,000 personnel. Sarma said during the conference, he had laid thrust on the optimal use of technology among others. The personnel had a detailed discussion on cyber crime.

    On the government’s war against drugs, he instructed the top police officers to take it to a “deciding stage”.

    “Organised crime nexus has to be stopped. We also have to protect the national assets,” he said.

    Reiterating his statement on “invisible policing”, Sarma said Assam Police are one of the most tech-driven police forces of the country and invisible policing starts with proper technology. He said the state has enough resources for invisible policing.

    He also said that the number of personal security officers (PSOs), attached to elected representatives and selected individuals, would be curtailed by 50%. The state has 4,800 PSOs.

    “I will cut back my security as well. I had 22 vehicles and I decided that there would be 7-8 vehicles when I am in Guwahati,” Sarma said.

    People will get good news when the imposition of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in Assam comes for a review by February-end, he said, indicating the Army personnel have withdrawn from most parts of the state as insurgency has waned.

    The CM exuded confidence on the settlement of Assam’s border disputes with Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh.

    “I am very hopeful about settlement with the two states within this year. However, before reaching any decision, the state government will talk to various organisations and political parties,” he said.

    He said the border talks with Mizoram started recently while the dispute with Nagaland was pending in the Supreme Court.

    Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla on Tuesday attended the conference, held at Duliajan, and interacted with the SPs. 

  • Assam government rolls out microfinance loan waiver scheme for 24 lakh women

    By PTI

    ASSAM: In a bid to fulfil a major poll promise, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday rolled out an ambitious microfinance loan waiver scheme, which is likely to benefit around 24 lakh women across the state.

    Sarma, at a function here, announced the beginning of the Assam Micro Finance Incentive and Relief Scheme 2021 (AMFIRS) and ceremonially handed over cheques to five beneficiaries from Sonitpur district.

    “We are able to fulfil our election promise of microfinance loan relief within six months from returning to power and the state government will continue to march forward with the same zeal in the future as well,” he said.

    The scheme will benefit 24 lakh women in the state, and 59,468 of them in Sonitpur district will receive a one-time incentive amounting from Rs 16,000 to Rs 25,000 each.

    The chief minister inaugurated the first phase of the scheme for those borrowers, who have been repaying their debt regularly.

    “They will be provided with a one-time incentive up to Rs 25,000 or the outstanding balance, whichever is less. This is an incentive for them to maintain good credit discipline. Altogether, 11 lakh women will benefit in this phase of the programme,” Sarma said.

    In the next two days, beneficiaries of eight districts — Sonitpur, Charaideo, Sivasagar, Jorhat, Majuli, Golaghat, West Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao — will be provided with their due incentives through account payee cheques.

    The Assam Cabinet had on September 30 approved Rs 1,800 crore to waive microfinance loans availed by poor women in the first phase.

    In the second stage, benefits of the scheme will be extended to borrowers whose payments are overdue by less than 90 days and loan accounts are not classified as non-performing assets.

    The state government will pay the overdue amounts to borrowers in these cases. Borrowers whose accounts have become NPA will be covered in the third phase. The government will consider providing partial or full relief based on evaluation, an official said.

    During the assembly election campaign in March-April, Sarma had said all the microfinance loans of women would be waived if the BJP-led coalition returned to power, but after assuming the office he said it was a “political statement, but not a government promise”.

    The opposition parties had attacked the government for its “U-turn” in waiving the loans as promised by the BJP and said the saffron party has “cheated” the people.

    The state government had on August 24 signed an agreement with 38 microfinance institutions and banks for a Rs 12,000-crore AMFIRS.

    While presenting the state budget for 2021-22, Assam Finance Minister Ajanta Neog had said almost 26 lakh borrowers took loans worth Rs 12,500 crore from various MFIs and the bulk of this portfolio is in rural areas.

  • Assam CM welcomes former AIUDF leader Phanidhar Talukdar into BJP

    By ANI

    GUWAHATI: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday welcomed Phanidhar Talukdar into the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

    Talukdar, yesterday resigned from All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF).

    The Chief Minister in a tweet said that the former Member of the Legislative Assembly will join BJP later today.

    The faith of leaders across political spectrum in Hon PM Sri @narendramodi continues to grow.Happy to have met Hon MLA of Bhabanipur Sri Phanidhar Talukdar, who resigned from @AIUDFOfficial & will join @BJP4Assam later today. I welcome him to our Pariwaar.@JPNadda @blsanthosh pic.twitter.com/ZAXdaDkJcy
    — Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) September 1, 2021
    “The faith of leaders across political spectrum in Prime Minister Narendra Modi continues to grow. Happy to have met honourable MLA of Bhabanipur Phanidhar Talukdar, who resigned from AIUDF and will join BJP later today. I welcome him to our Pariwaar,” Sarma said.

    The sitting MLA from Badruddin Ajmal’s AIUDF quit the party on Tuesday. He had contested the state assembly polls early this year on an AIUDF ticket.  

  • Assam government to grant an extra seven-day leave to employees to spend time with elderly parents

    Express News Service

    GUWAHATI: Continuing with its focus on geriatric care, the Assam government has decided to grant an extra seven days’ leave to its employees once a year but on the strict condition that they will spend the time with their elderly parents.

    Making the announcement in his Independence Day speech on Sunday, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the employees could avail the leave at any given time.

    “We have to take a resolve that we won’t keep our elderly parents in an old age home. In spiritual India, nothing is more disturbing and shameful than to see elderly parents in an old age home…

    “I understand that we need to work hard to run the family but I want to ask if the state government employees can spend seven days’ time with their aged parents. The government will grant the leave,” Sarma said.

    He appealed to people to resolve that they would not send their elderly parents to old-age homes.

    Speaking in a similar vein, he appealed to traders to take seven days’ break from business and take their elderly parents on a pilgrimage. In this regard, he made mention of Shravan Kumar, the mythological character who was known for filial piety.

    Last week, the government linked geriatric care to the employees’ pay by passing the Assam Employees’ Parent Responsibility and Norms for Accountability and Monitoring Amendment Bill.

    Once it becomes a law, it will make it mandatory for the employees to take care of their parents or face a certain deduction from their pay that would be used for their parents’ welfare.

    In his speech, Sarma appealed to people to plant 75 saplings in every school and office – both public and private – to make Assam green, abjure the use of single-use plastic, avoid the consumption of gutka to prevent cancer and maintain cleanliness, not to marry off daughters before they attain the age of 21 years, take a resolve to work extra one hour in government offices to help Assam become one of the top five states etc.

    Meanwhile, the flag of banned insurgent group United Liberation Front of Assam or ULFA was found hoisted at some places of the state. The outfit had on Saturday extended its unilateral ceasefire by three months.

    Sarma on Sunday appealed to ULFA military chief Paresh Baruah to join the mainstream. Further, he reiterated his government’s commitment to go the extra mile in liberating the state from the scourge of human trafficking, drugs and cattle smuggling.

  • Aim at inoculating 30% of Assam’s population by August 15 if vaccines available: CM

    The pace of immunisation for people in the 18-44 years age bracket will be slow till the first week of the next month, the chief minister said.

  • ‘Aim to make Assam one among top five states’: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma

    By PTI
    GUWAHATI: New Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma Monday said controlling the “alarming” COVID-19 situation in the state is his first priority and his aim will be to make the state one of the top five in the ccountry in the next five years.

    Sarma, who was addressing the press after being sworn in, appealed to all insurgent groups of Assam, specially ULFA (I) to lay down arms and join the mainstream to sort out their issues and establish lasting peace in the state.

    He said the first cabinet meeting of the second BJP government in the state will be held on Tuesday to discuss the prevailing situation vis a vis the COVID-19 pandemic and decide on measures to contain it.

    Sarma, who is also the convenor of the BJP-led North East Democratic Alliance, said his other objectives will be to fulfill all poll promises like providing one lakh jobs every year, waiving off microfinance loans and to make the state free from the perennial floods.

    “My aim will be to make Assam one of the top five Indian states in the next five years. We want to take development to newer heights and bring peace among all castes, creeds and communities. We will start working from tomorrow to fulfill this aim,” he asserted.

    ALSO READ | Himanta Biswa Sarma: Man of the Match of the Assam elections

    On the “alarming” COVID-19 situation in the Assam, he said unless the pandemic is controlled in the state, the cases due to it will not go down in the rest of the north east states.

    “The COVID-19 situation in Assam is alarming and my first job will be to control it. Our daily cases have crossed 5,000 mark. In our cabinet meeting tomorrow, we will discuss it from all perspectives. We will take measures to contain the cases. The new government will take every possible measure to contain the spread (of coronavirus),” Sarma said.

    Sarma took oath on Monday after he was unanimously elected the leader of BJP Legislature Party and the NDA Legislature Party on Sunday, ending the week-long speculations about who would lead the only non-Congress government to return to power for the second successive term in Assam.

    On ending insurgency in the state, he said “I request Paresh Barua (the commander-in-chief of the banned ULFA(I)) to abjure armed struggle and join talks to solve the problems.

    Kidnappings and killings complicate problems, not solve them.

    I hope we will be able to bring back the underground insurgents to the mainstream in the next five years,” he added.

    The outfit has been repsonsible for many killings and kidnappings, the latest being that of three ONGC employees from the pubblic sector company’s Lakwa oil rig in Sivasagar district along the Assam-Nagaland border in April this year.

    Following this security forces had ramped up its counter- insurgency operations and killed a top ULFA(I) commander and arrested one of his aides.

    Asked to comment on the contentious National Register of Citizens (NRC), the new chief minister said his government wants reverification of 20 per cent names in the border districts of Assam, and 10 per cent in the rest of the districts.

    “If very negligible error is found, then we can go with the existing NRC.

    But if huge anomalies are found in reverification, then I hope the court will take note of this and do the needful with a new perspective,” he said without elaborating.

    Sarma said that the government will also try to solve the controversies surrounding the definition of indigenous people in respect to NRC and citizenship issues by talking to all segments of the society in the next five years.

    On BJP’s promise of bringing in a law against ‘love jehad’, he said “Each promise made is meant to be implemented. Every promise is solemn for us. We will do everything possible to fulfill them.”

    He said his predecessor Sarbananda Sonowal led the state in the path of peace and development during the last five years and the new government will take forward the same with “renewed pace”.

    Asked about giving ST status to six tribes as promised by BJP in 2016, Sarma said “We will see to it that there is no impact on the existing communities.

    We will discuss this with all stakeholders and proceed accordingly.”

    About the state’s financial condition, Sarma, who was the finance minister of the Sarbananda Sonowal cabinet, said that there is Rs 7,000 crore in the treasury and all developmental works will continue in the coming period.

    “We have one of the best fiscal situations. I want to tell everyone that there is absolutely no cause of concern on the financial condition of Assam,” Sarma said.

    The Assam government will ensure protection of women and punish those harming their dignity.

  • Assam CM Himanta appeals to ULFA chief Paresh Baruah to come forward for peace talks  

    Express News Service
    GUWAHATI: In his maiden media briefing as the Chief Minister of Assam on Monday, Himanta Biswa Sarma appealed to Paresh Baruah, the self-styled “commander-in-chief” of the insurgent group United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) to come forward for peace talks.

    “A dialogue with the ULFA is a two-way traffic. Paresh Baruah has to come forward. Similarly, we have to go to him. If both sides have the will, communication won’t be difficult,” Sarma said.

    He said peace returned to Bodoland Territorial Region and Karbi Anglong after the Centre signed peace pacts with the various insurgent groups.

    “Over the past five years (under the BJP government), people saw a process of peace and development in Assam. Peace returned to Bodo areas and Karbi Anglong. Our efforts now will be to bring the remaining rebel groups to the talks table for the establishment of permanent peace in the state,” the CM said.

    Appealing to Baruah and other ULFA members to join the peace process, he said killings and abductions will not solve problems. He was optimistic that the government will be able to bring all groups, still wielding the gun, to the mainstream within the next five years.

    ALSO READ | Once blue-eyed boy of Tarun Gogoi, Himanta Sarma gets reward for expanding BJP in Northeast

    Sarma said the first priority of his government will be to contain the Covid pandemic, stating that the situation in the state was alarming.

    The first meeting of the state Cabinet will be held on Tuesday and the CM said the government will try to fulfil all pre-poll promises, which include making Assam flood-free.

    On the National Register of Citizens (NRC), he said the government will favour 20% re-verification of documents in the districts that share a border with Bangladesh and 10% re-verification elsewhere.

    “If the old draft of the NRC is found to be flawless during the re-verification process, we will go ahead with it. But if anomalies are detected, we will want the Supreme Court to see to it,” he said.

    The NRC of 1951 was updated in Assam under the direct monitoring of the apex court. Over 19 lakh people were left out of the draft.

    Asked if his government will bring in a law against “love jihad” and “land jihad” (a way to force people sell off their lands), Sarma said, “The poll promises are solemn for us. We will implement each one of them.”

    Stating that the state government has Rs 7000 crore in the treasury, he said Assam was one of the best fiscally-managed states in the country and there was absolutely no cause of concern.

    Earlier in the day, Governor Jagdish Mukhi administered the oath of office and secrecy to Sarma. Thirteen others were also sworn in as Cabinet Ministers.

    Three of them belong to two BJP allies. They are Asom Gana Parishad president Atul Bora, its working president Keshab Mahanta and former Rajya Sabha member UG Brahma of the United People’s Party Liberal.

    The BJP ministers are party’s state president Ranjeet Kumar Dass, Parimal Suklabaidya, Chandra Mohan Patowary, Ajanta Neog, Ranoj Pegu, Sanjay Kishan, Jogen Mohan, Ashok Singhal, Pijush Hazarika and Bimal Bora.

    Brahma (UPPL), Pegu, Singhal and Bora are first-time ministers.

    Neog, the only woman in the ministry, had defected to the BJP from the Congress in December last year.

    Some CMs of northeastern states were among dignitaries who attended the swearing-in ceremony. Before taking the oath, Sarma had visited the Kamakhya and a few other temples. 

  • Ministerial duty or Rajya Sabha seat? Sarbananda Sonowal’s future plans remain unknown

    Express News Service
    GUWAHATI: There remain unanswered questions on outgoing Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal’s political future after Himanta Biswa Sarma was unanimously elected to head the new government.

    However, BJP sources indicated Sonowal would be taken back to Delhi and given a ministerial berth.READ HERE | Himanta Biswa Sarma to take oath as Assam Chief Minister on May 10

    A Rajya Sabha seat is lying vacant after Biswajit Daimary had resigned to contest the Assembly elections. The BJP sources said Sonowal would be asked to fill in the seat.

    “He has been a very successful CM. The BJP central leadership sent him to Assam in 2016 on deputation to head the government after he had acquired knowledge as a Union minister. He will now be taken back to Delhi,” the BJP sources said.

    Sonowal was serving as the Union Sports and Youth Resources Minister prior to becoming the Assam CM.

    He started his political career in the All Assam Students’ Union and served it as its president from 1992-1999. Later, he joined the Asom Gana Parishad and was elected to the Assembly from Moran in 2001. In 2004, he was elected to the Lok Sabha from Dibrugarh. In 2011, he had defected to the BJP and in 2014, he was elected to the Lok Sabha for the second time.

  • Himanta Biswa Sarma to take oath as Assam Chief Minister on May 10

    Express News Service
    GUWAHATI: Ending days of uncertainty, the BJP on Sunday named party strongman Himanta Biswa Sarma as its Assam chief ministerial candidate.

    The decks were cleared after he was elected as the leader of BJP legislature party in the presence of central observers including Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, BL Santhosh, Arun Singh and Vaijyanta Panda.

    The name of Sarma was proposed by outgoing CM Sarbananda Sonowal and seconded by BJP state chief and MLA Ranjeet Kumar Dass and MLA Nandita Garlosa.

    “As no other name was proposed, Sarma was elected unanimously as the BJP legislature party leader,” Tomar said.

    ALSO READ | Sonowal to be a guide, grateful to PM for support: Himanta Biswa Sarma

    Later in the evening, Sarma along with Sonowal and other leaders of BJP-led alliance met Governor Jagdish Mukhi and submitted a list of legislators to him, staking claim to form the government. The alliance of BJP, Asom Gana Parishad and United People’s Party Liberal had bagged a combined 75 seats in the 126-member House.

    Sarma as well as some ministers will be administered the oath of office and secrecy on Monday. Outgoing CM Sonowal tendered his resignation to the Governor, but was asked to continue in office till the new government is installed.

    Earlier in the day, Sarma visited Sonowal and left in the same vehicle to attend the BJP legislature party meeting. Later, both posed together for photos.

    On Saturday, the duo had rushed to Delhi in a chartered flight after being summoned by the party’s central leaders who met them separately before meeting them together at party chief JP Nadda’s residence.

    Sonowal accepted the transition with a smile.

    Speaking after a meeting of NDA legislature party, he highlighted how the BJP government had managed to restore peace in the state.

    “The government had managed to restore peace and ensure progress and security. People’s faith and trust in us increased as evident from this victory. Given his long experience, I am confident Mr Himanta Biswa Sarma will be able to deliver,” Sonowal said.

    READ HERE | Himanta Biswa Sarma: Chief architect of BJP’s success in Northeast

    Sarma said Assam had seen value-based politics in the last five years under Sonowal. He said there are some dark spots in the moon but Sonowal’s tenure was spotless.

    “We will march ahead by following in his (Sonowal’s) footsteps. I promise the new government will maintain value-based politics. Sonowal was our leader and he will remain so,” Sarma said.

    He expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for reposing faith in him.

    “How enormously blessed I feel Hon PM Sri @narendramodi for your faith in me. This is the biggest day in my life, and I so fondly cherish your generous affection. I assure you we shall leave no stone unturned to carry forward your vision of taking Assam, & NE to greater heights,” Sarma tweeted.

    He was prepared for this moment. He did all that he could to retain the attention of party’s central leaders. Even before other parties launched their election campaign, he had taken out rallies and organised roadshows across the state with thousands of BJP workers and supporters to prove his popularity.

    His filing of nomination was a gala affair. Several thousand supporters accompanied him. Manipur CM N Biren Singh and BJP’s two central leaders were also present. Sonowal’s was a low-key affair.

    The BJP got strengthened in Assam and Northeast ever since Sarma deserted the Congress and wore saffron. It was he who hoisted the BJP flag across the region and was rightly rewarded.